Prompting system



P. ROSENBERG July 12, 1949.

PROIPTING SYSTEI Filed 'Oct. 29, 1946 2 She ts-Shoet l m E R8 m P m m Wmw E WA N w a 4% W m July 12, 1949. P. ROSE NBERG 2,475,641

PROIPTING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 29,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PAUL ROSENBERG ATTORNEYS a; 2.4 g a PatentedJuly 12, 1949 PROMPTING SYSTEM Paul Rosenberg, Larchmont, N. Y.,asslgnor to John Archer Carter, New York, N. Y.

Application October 29, 1946, Serial No. 708,328

This invention relates to means and methods for prompting actors,speakers, and the like, and comprises a system whereby one or more suchpersons may be prompted or receive instructions, selectively or ingroups, without the knowledge of the audience.

The system, in accordance with the invention, includes radiotransmitting and receiving apparatus of such nature, and so located andcontrolled, that the actors may hear the voice of a prompter, forexample, whereas the audience can neither hear the prompter no be awareof the apparatus by which his voice is carried to the actors. The systemand certain apparatus of the invention have a wide field of application,as will be seen from the more detailed description to follow.

In the staging of almost any kind of show, particularly the so-calleddrama-type, in which actors engage in dialogue, for an audience whetheron the legitimate stage, in the movies, radio or television, it iscustomary to make provision for the prompting of the actors. In the caseof radio, the actors are often free to read from their scripts, so thatthe matter of prompting is of concern on occasions when the use ofscripts is not feasible. For the legitimate stage, the actors for themost part memorize their lines and rehearse their parts before appearingbefore the public, usually with the expectation of numerous repeatperformances. This is thought to justify the labor and expense involved.However, this is nottrue of movie and television shows, which are oftenhastily prepared, rehearsed once or twice and performed for publicconsumption only once. Labor and time for memorizing lines andrehearsing parts are of primary economic importance.

In the past, placards, blown-up scripts, or other silent meanscontaining the lines have been placed within view of the actors butoutside the range of the movie camera or television camera" and henceoutside the view of the audience. Such visual means for prompting havenot proved Satisfactory for obvious reasons. The actors may look at theplacards so intently for help that their acting appears unnatural. Theireyesight may be so defective as to make ready reading of 12 Claims. (Cl.343-400) only occasional help, but is of course not satisfactory forradio or television because what is audible to the actors may be pickedup, transmitted and made audible to the audience listening to the show.The movies present a special case when the sound is not recordedsimultaneously with the taking of the pictures. In that case, the actorsmay be prompted and directed I just before a shot is taken with thecamera, a sequence of such shots being taken to build up a continuity.Scenes are often repeated until a shot thought to be satisfactory hasbeen taken. In addition, the shots may be pieced together, the wholepicture may be edited, cut, have a sound track added thereto, etc.,before being shown to the public. Such a practice is, of course, notfeasible in the production of television shows because the actorson-stage are visible continuously to the audience. Television actors arein general therefore required to commit their lines to memory and tohave a number of rehearsals, the practice being patterned after thatfollowed in a legitimate stage production. This is laborious and costlybecause this effort and expense cannot be spread over a large number ofperformances, as in the theatre. Drama of this kind is so expensive thatit is substantially prohibitive. The advertiser pays. the cost of timefor memorizing a quarter hour, half hour or longer, television show. Hepays again for long rehearsals. The high cost of producing televisionprograms makes this medium too expensive for many advertisers, and hasbeen an important brake on the progress of television broadcasting. Thisis seriously delaying the progress of a medium that could be highlyentertaining and that could have very large sales possibilities.

Investigation confirms my discovery that a means of transmitting signalsor speech may be employed which for the most part solves the promptingproblem for actors engaged in producing television programs. These meansare adapted for other uses as well. They can, for. example, be used forprompting actors in movie and radio programs; or conveying instructions,signals or lines to anyone appearing, for example, before an audience,such as a speaker, a master-oi-ceremonies, a band or orchestra leader,etc.

The invention can be more clearly understood by the followingdescription taken together with the drawings in which I Fig. 1illustrates, in perspective, a stage in a television studio, includingthe representation of actors and the apparatus included in the system ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 shows a radio receiver of compact type, suitable to be carried byan actor in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of combination radio receiverand earphone. in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3a shows means supporting the radio receiver-earphone combinationbehind the ear in a substantially invisible manner;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing'the detailedconstruction of a radio receiverearphone unit, such as represented inFigs. 3 and 30;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 5-4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified and more compactform of radio receiver-earphone unit;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a crosssectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are circuit diagrams of alternative connections ofthe radio receiver-earphone unit of Figs. 4, 5 and 6; and

Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram of connections of the, radioreceiver-earphone unit of Figs. '7, 8 and 9.

The nature of the invention will readily be understood by reference toFig. l, which represents a stage upon which two actors, A and B, areshown. For purposes of explanation, it is assumed that this stage is setin a television transmitting studio. In accordance with the invention,the voice of the prompter is transmitted by a short-range radiotransmitter, concealed from view, and the radio signals are received bythe actors on compact radio receivers, the audio frequency output ofwhich is reproduced by a substantially invisible earphone connected toeach receiver. In Fig. 1, actor A carries in his inside coat pocket 9.pocket type orminiature radio receiver 8, such as is illustrated in Fig.2, and from this receiver wires pass upwardly from the actors collar andconnect to an earphone 9 of the hearing-aid type which may be of fleshcolor and is preferably inserted within the ear. such earphones aresubstantially invisible.

Actress B is represented as wearing a modified form of radioreceiver-earphone unit, in accordance with the invention. This unit,later to be described, is completely contained within 8. casing at leastas small as that commonly employed for hearing-aid telephone receiversof the bone conduction type. Such a unit, constructed in accordance withthe invention, is illustrated in Fig. 3. The receiver-earphone may beattached to a headband which is concealed in the actress hair. Unit 2|may thus be held in place behind the ear. Since this unit is a completeradio receiver in itself, no wires other than the headband are attachedto it.

If the headband of Fig. 3 is too conspicuous, a C-shaped clip may besubstituted as in Fig. 3a. This clip 40 holds the unit 2i behind the earby gripping the top and bottom of the ear from the rear. If neitherdevice is feasible, the unit 21 itself may be secured to the skin behindthe actors ear by suitable adhesive.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 1, two radio transmitters l2 and i3are shown as concealed behind the backdrop of the stage. They may,

From a distance of a few feet 4 however, be located elsewhere withintheir transmitting range. These two transmitters I2 and it arerepresented as of the ultra-high-frequency type having di-pole antennas34 and 35, mounted on top thereof in front of suitable reflectors l4 andIS. The radio beams emitted from such antennas may be directed to beintercepted by one or more actors on the stage, as desired.

A third radio transmitter 4 is shown attached to the television cameraI. This camera is supported upon a rolling stand or dolly 2 by means ofa universal mounting 3. Manipulation of universal mounting 3 permits thecamera to be swung both vertically and horizontally and thus aimed" inany direction.

Radio transmitter 4 is also assumed to be of the ultra-high-frequency ormicro-wave type. At the front of the casing of transmitter 4 a reflector5 is secured. From the center of reflector 5 a suitable wave guide 6extends in a hook shape so that, in a manner well known in the art, theradiations emitted from the wave guide are reflected by reflector 5 andpropagated substantially in a beam from the reflector. Thus, it will beseen that radio waves from transmitter 4 will be radiated in the samedirection in which the camera is pointed. If reflector 5 is turned at anangle with respect to the camera lens and secured in such position, theradiations will not emanate in the same direction in which the camera ispointed, but in another direction automatically determined by thedirection in which the camera is pointed.

The three radio transmitters above referred to, and as shown in Fig. 1,are all of the highly directional type. However, it is contemplatedthat, under some circumstances, it may not be necessary to employ agreatly restricted radio field. Therefore, the invention may also beunderstood to include radio transmitters having generallynon-directional radiating characteristics, such as might result, forexample, from a vertical rod antenna or from a horizontal wire antenna.In either case, the transmitter may operate at any suitable frequency.

The radio transmitters 4, l2 and I3 are, as shown, connected by suitablecables to a control board l0 through which may pass the wires effectingthe control of video signals from the television camera and the audiosignals from the television sound pickup or stage microphone I. Theprompter C may conveniently wear a microphone 36 of the breast type,leaving his hands free to hold the script and to gesture to the actors.

He may also wear earphones 38, 39a, in order to hear what the actors aresaying, in which event his earphones would be connected to the studiomicrophone I. By means of suitable switches on switch box 31 and 31a(below referred to), the prompters headphones may be connectable to anyof the microphone circuits to permit intercommunication, for example.

It is usually preferred that the prompter carry a small switch box 31which may be strapped to his waist, or held in his hand. This switchbox, which is connected to the control switch board I0, carries one ormore switches, actuation of which connects the prompters microphone toany one or more of the mentioned radio transmitters, or changes thefrequency of the transmitters, or both. The result is that the promptermay, by manipulating his switches, cause his microphone to modulate anyone or more of the selected radio transmitters at any desired frequency,thus causing any one or more of the actors to hear the prompters voice.For example, if the radio receiver carried by actor A is tuned tofrequency f1 and the transmitter I2 is also tuned to frequency f1, andthe radio receiver carried by actress B is tuned to frequency f: and thetransmitter I3 is also tuned to frequency is, then the prompter, byswitching his microphone to either transmitter l2 or transmitter l3, maybe heard by either actor a or actress B, respectively, but, in thiscase, not by both simultaneously.

Such selection of actors by frequency discrimination is especiallyapplicable to a system wherein non-directional transmitters of not veryhigh frequency are employed. On the other hand, if highly directionaltransmitters are employed, the necessary selection of actors may usuallybe effected by directional discrimination.

It is contemplated that the radio transmitters may include provision forchanging the radiation frequency thereof, in which event manipulation ofappropriate switches 31 will result in the transmission of signals atwhatever'frequency is required to correspond to the frequency of theradio receiver carried by the actor or actors to whom transmission isdesired. The necessary remote control of switching apparatus to effectthis result can, in a well known manner, be directly controlled byswitches on the prompters switch box 31 or can, at least in part, becontrolled from the control panel of the switching mechanism in thecontrol room. The control operators shown at the control desk III areintended to perform the usual functions of the control operators intelevision transmission and so are furnished with a television receiverH by which they can watch the scene which is picked up by camera I andcan hear through a. loudspeaker or earphone the sounds picked up bymicrophone 1. Additionally,

it is contemplated, in accordance with the present invention, that thecontrol lines between the prompters switch box 31 and the several radiotransmitters will pass through the control operators panel in order toprovide greater flexibility in the system. Thus, the prompters controlbox 31 may be limited to a small number of controls which, bysupplemental selection at the control desk Hi, can be caused to placeunder the control of the prompter any preselected radio transmitters atany required frequencies. small installations the prompters switch box31 may be. connected directly to the transmitters. Two prompters, C andD, are shown to illustrate the fact that according to the invention, asmany prompters should be provided as are required to furnish lines tothe actors. The number of prompters required will obviously depend onthe number of speaking actors and the nature of their lines. Oneprompter is frequently sufllcient.

The radio receiver 8 illustrated in Fig. 2 is shown to comprise adetector [6 of the crystal type, or other desired type, to which asuitable inductance l1 and a shunt condenser l8 are connected. Theseelements together comprise the receiver circuit. For the reception ofsignals at short distances, as would normally be experienced intelevision or theatrical performances, the coil I! should pick upsufiicient signal energy to obviate the need for additional receivingantenna. However, should the signal strength as thus picked-up by coil Hbe insufiicient, additional antenna effect will result from connectingor coupling one end of coil I! to a part of the actors body or, in thealternative, an additional length of wire may be employed as an antenna.A few 1 turns of wire secured to a belt around the actors waist has beenfound feasible as an antenna, and likewise a strand of wire connected tothe coil I! and running alongside the wires which carry the audiofrequencies to the earphone has also proved successful. It may here bepointed out that the signal field intensity from a radio transmitter ofthe highly directional type is likely to be much greater than that froma transmitter of the non-directional type. Accordingly, a receiver ofthe type shown in Fig. 2 will usually be found to respond satisfactorilyto either type of transmitter, whereas the ultra-small type of receiveras shown in Figs. 4 to 12, inclusive, is likely to respond better to themore intense field from a transmitter of the directional type.

The audio-frequency signals derived from the receiver circuit l6, l1,18, may be amplified by a vacuum tube amplifier l9 energized by suitablebatteries 20 also included in case 8. Likewise, radio-frequencyamplification may be employed ahead of the detector, in well-knownmanner. The amplifier and batteries may conveniently be of the typecommonly employed in hearing aids. The output of amplifier I9 isconnected, as shown, to a suitable earphone of the hearing aid type. {inearphone of the acoustic type, fitted within the ear, or of the boneconduction type is suitable.

In some instances, the use of a pocket type radio receiver and ahearing-aid type of earphone with its connecting wires as in Fig. 2, isunsatisfactory because theycannot be hidden in the costume, or theearphone can be observed if the audience is very close to the actor, orif the television camera is moved close to the actor as in close-ups. Insuch event, it is desirable to employ a combined radio receiver-earphoneunit as shown in Fig. 4, or Fig. '1. The unit illustrated in Figs. 4, 5,and 6 comprises a casing 29 which may preferably be of thin insulatingmaterial, such as a suitable plastic, which contains a complete radioreceiver and earphone. The elements of this radio receiver comprise acrystal 23 having suitable detecting characteristics, such as providedby a silicon crystal and a contact spring or cat's-whisker 26 in contactwith the crystal. These two detector elements are maintained rigidlyinoperative relation to each other by embedding them in a suitableinsulating compound, such as Wax 33, which preferably should also havesome vibration-absorbing characteristics. Wound around the block of wax33 is a compactly wound tuning coil 21, and positioned adjacent thedetector and coil is a tuning condenser 28. The detector, coilandcondenser just described together comprise a radio receiver which,electrically, corresponds to that shown in Fig. 2. It is assumed thatthe capacity of the condenser and the inductance of the coil are chosento be resonant at the frequency to be received. Connected to thisreceiver is a piezo-electric crystal 22. This crystal is of thewell-known type which vibrates at audio frequencies to produce soundwaves when energized by electric current of audio frequency, andtherefore would be placed adjacent the ear. Crystal 22 is interposedbetween two suitable metallic electrodes 3|, 32 which may comprise filmsof gold deposited on the surfaces of crystal 22 by electro-plating, orotherwise.

Figs. 10 and 11 comprise two alternative circuit diagrams of connectionsof the elements of the radio receiver-earphone unit above described. Thecircuit connections are generally similar, differing only in that inFig. 10 the tuning elements 7 21, 28 are in series with each other, andin Fig. 11 these elements are connected in shunt with each other. Thedifference is one of expediency determined largely by the frequency ofthe signals to which it is desired the receiver should respond.

The capacity 30, shown in dotted lines, represents the inherentelectrostatic capacity between the actors body and the surface ofelectrode 3!, it being presumed that this metallic surface is coatedwith a suitable insulating film such as a lacquer. This inherentcapacity 30 provides an electric coupling between the body of the actorand the receiver proper, and normally passes sufficient high-frequencysignal energy to actuate the receiver. If such insulating film beomitted, the electrode 3| will make electrical contact with the skin ofthe actor's body in which event capacity 30 would effectively beshort-circuited. In either event, the actors body, in effect, constitutes an antenna from which radio-frequency signals are connected tothe radio receiver elements 23, 26, 21, and 28. The audio-frequencyoutput signals from the receiver which actuate the piezo-electriccrystal 22 cause it to vibrate and thus to reproduce speech frequenciesin the ear of the actor. Thus, as here utilized. crystal 22 in itsenvironment constitutes a substantially invisible earphone.

The radio receiver-earphone unit just described in connection with Figs.4, 5, and 6 can be made so much smaller than any heretofore proposedthat it has been found possible to reduce it to dimensions andconformation permitting the unit to be inserted within the ear, so as tobe completely invisible. Alternatively, this receiver may suitably beworn in the manner of a bone conduction type of earphone directly behindthe ear, as represented by actress B in Fig. 1. If the unit 2| is heldin place by a. headband 38 comprising a wire loop, as in Fig. 3, it ispossible to employ this loop as an antenna or as a substitute for, or asa supplement to, the inductance of coil 21, all depending upon thefrequency of the radio signais employed. It may also be supported behindthe car by a clip 40 as shown in Fig. 3a, or, as previously mentioned,the unit 2| may be aflixed by adhesive to the skin behind the ear.

The alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 7,

8. and 9 is, in general, similar to that shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, thedifference being that the coil 21 and condenser 28 are omitted. For thereception of radio waves at ultra-high frequencies, it has beenascertained that an inductance coil 21 and condenser 20 are not alwaysrequired. The elimination of these two components results in a furtherreduction in the size of the unit and, as a result, it is even easier tomake the complete radio receiver-earphone of such dimensions andconformation that the entire unit may be inserted directly within thehuman ear. The circuit connections of the unit of Figs. 7. 8. 9 areshown in Fig. 12. It will be obvious that because of its extremely smalldimensions, and light weight, this unit may be held in place by any ofthe means above referred to in connection with Figs. 3 to 6.

What is claimed is:

1. In a prompting system for television studios and the like, a radioreceiver concealable on the body of an actor or the like, an earphone ofsubstantially invisible type connected thereto, a television camera, apickup microphone located in pickup relation to said actor, a radiotransmitter, a prompters microphone connectible to the input of saidtransmitter, an antenna for transmitting signals to said receiver, saidtransmitter and antenna being of the highly directional type, saidantenna being tractable with said camera so as to radiate predominatelyin a direction automatically determined by the direction in which thecamera is pointed, whereby to televise said actor and simultaneously toprompt said actor in a manner invisible to said camera and inaudible tosaid pickup microphone.

2. In a prompting system for television studios and the like, a radioreceiver conceaiable on the body of an actor or the like, an earphone ofsubstantially invisible type connected thereto, a television camera, apickup microphone located in pickup relation to said actor, a radiotransmitter, a prompters microphone connectible to the input or saidtransmitter, an antenna for transmitting signals to said receiver, saidtransmitter and antenna being of the highly directional type, saidantenna being secured to said camera so as automatically to radiatepredominateiy in the direction in which the camera is pointed, wherebyto televise said actor and simultaneously to prompt said actor in amanner invisible to said camera and inaudible to said pickup microphone.

3. In a system for individually and selectively prompting a plurality ofactors by a single prompter, a concealable radio receiver for eachactor, each receiver being tuned to a different frequency, an earphoneof substantially invisible type connected to each receiver, a pluralityof radio transmitters positioned to transmit to said actors, eachtransmitter being tuned to the frequency of one of said receivers, aprompter's microphone connectible to modulate any one of saidtransmitters, stage microphone means located in pickup relation to saidactors, a telephone receiver for said prompter, switching meanseffectively operable by said prompter for selectively connecting saidmicrophone to any one of said transmitters, and means connecting saidtelephone receiver to said stage microphone means whereby the promptermay hear the lines recited by the actor.

4. In a system for individually and selectively prompting a plurality ofactors, a concealable radio receiver; for each actor, each receiverbeing tuned to a different frequency, an earphone of substantiallyinvisible type connected to each receiver, a radio transmitterpositioned to transmit to said receiver, said transmitter includingmeans for selectively transmitting at a plurality of frequencies, aprompters microphone connected to modulate said transmitter, stagemicrophone means located in pickup relation to said actors, a telephonereceiver for said prompter, means positioned at the location of saidprompters microphone eiIectively operable by said prompter and connectedto said transmitter for changing the frequency of transmission thereofin accordance with the actor to be prompted, and connections from saidtelephone receiver to said stage microphone means whereby the promptermay hear the lines recited by the actor. e

5. In a prompting system according to claim 1, prompter's apparatusincluding an earphone. said pickup microphone comprising a televisionsound pickup microphone located in pickup relation to said actor, andconnections between the prompters earphone and the pickup microphone,whereby said prompter can hear the speech sounds of said actor throughthe prompters earphone and said actor can be prompted by said prompterthrough said actor's earphone.

6. In combination with a system according to claim 5, a second actorequipped with a concealable radio receiver and an earphone, a secondradio transmitter suitable to transmit to said second actor, and aswitching device operable by the prompter effectively to connect saidprompters microphone to the input of either transmitter.

7. In combination with a system according to claim 5, a second actorequipped with a concealable earphone and a radio receiver tuned to afrequency (f2) which is different from the frequency (h) to which theradio receiver for the first-mentioned actor is tuned, and switchingmeans actuated by a switching device operable by the prompter by whichthe prompter may eiIectively adjust the frequency transmitted by saidradio transmitter to (in) or (f2) 8. In a prompting system fortelevision studios and the like, a plurality oi radio receiversincluding earphones concealable on the bodies of as many actors or thelike, a television camera, a television sound microphone located inpickup relation to said actors, a plurality of radio trans- 'mitters fortransmitting radio signals to the receivers carried by said actors,prompters apparatus including a telephone receiver, a microphone and aswitching device, a control board including switching means and acontrol operators telephone receiver, connecting lines from saidtelevision camera and sound microphone to said control board andconnecting lines from said prompters apparatus to said control board,the switching means at said control board being operative at will tointerconnect the prompter's microphone and the control operator'stelephone receiver and to connect the prompter's microphone to any orall of said radio transmitters.

9. In a prompting system for television studios and the like, aplurality of shortwave radio transmitters for local transmission-toradio receivers carried by actors in the studio, a plurality ofprompters' communication sets, each set comprisin a microphone, atelephone receiver and a switching device, and connections between saidswitching devices and between said switching devices and the inputs orsaid transmitters, said switching devices including means by which theprompters may interconnect their respective microphones and receiversfor intercom'munication and alternatively may connect their microphonesrespectively to one of said radio transmitters whereby to prompt saidactors.

10. A prompting system which comprises in combination, a stage adaptedto accommodate a plurality of actors, microphone means located in pickuprelation to actor locations on said stage, a plurality oi shortwaveradio transmitters oi to transmit to a corresponding radio receivercarried by a given actor, a prompters station including a microphone, atelephone receiver and a switching device, said switching device beinarranged to connect the prompter's microphone selectively to the inputoi any of said transmitters.

11. A prompting system which comprises in combination, a stage adaptedto accommodate a plurality of actors, stage microphone means located inpickup relation to actor locations on said stage, a plurality ofshortwave radio transmitters of range effectively restricted to theneighborhood of said stage, each transmitter being adapted to transmitto a corresponding radio receiver carried by a given actor, a promptersstation including a microphone, a telephone receiver and a switchingdevice, a control board and connections from said control board to saidswitching device, said radio transmitters and said stage microphonemeans, said switchin device including means for signalling said controlboard, and said control board including means for switching themicrophone at said prompters station selectively to the input of any ofsaid transmitters.

12. A prompting system which comprises in combination, a stage adaptedto accommodate a plurality of actors, stage microphone means located inpickup relation to actor locations on said stage, a plurality ofshortwave radio transmitters of range effectively restricted to theneighborhood of said stage, each transmitter being adapted to transmitto a corresponding radio receiver carried by a given actor, a promptersstation including a microphone and a telephone receiver, a control boardand connections from said control board to said radio transmitters, saidprompters microphone and said stage microphone means, said control boardincluding a telephone receiver and means for switching the microphone atsaid prompters station selectively to the input of any of saidtransmitters or to said control board telephone receiver, or both, andfor connecting the telephone receiver at said prompter's station to saidstage microphone means.

PAUL

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,219,682 vansiae Mar. 20, 19171,384,014 Fessenden July 5, 1921 2,070,112 Bowles Feb. 9, 1937 2,101,785Wilckens Dec. '7, 1937 2,319,627 Perlman May 18, 1943 2,363,583 GilmanNov. 28, 1944 2,400,068 Beers -1 May 14, 1946

